Critics accused the agency, which depends largely on the French state for its financial equilibrium, of self-censorship in an attempt to avoid ruffling Mr Hollande’s feathers. . . .

Given the desire of government to punish those who run news stories that make them look bad, this story provides a good example why the media should be protected from financial or regulatory pressures that the government can impose on them. In this case, the desire to hide the picture might have backfired.

But the row merely added to the publicity surrounding the picture, which went viral on French internet sites amid widespread hilarity. . . .